What Can You Learn from the Chewbacca Mom?

So I was on a run in my neighborhood (always my BEST idea of the day!), and was listening to my favorite podcast – the Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey. Her guest was Candace Payne, who you may remember made a video in her car with a Chewbacca mask on, and within 5 hours had more than 1 million views.

You guys, she’s amazing, and you should definitely listen to the entire episode if you want to be inspired, but here’s what got to me. She said, “I was waiting with my sails ready. I was waiting. And the moment the wind came, I have had my sails up going. I’ve been letting the wind take me and I’m going with it. And I’m not letting down the sails until I’m told.” Mind. Blown.

This was a stay-at-home mom who bought her kids Christmas presents at the Dollar Tree. Years ago her family had lived in a van. But she was putting in the work raising her kids, leading worship, and telling stories. Now she’s using her gifts and talents in a way she never thought possible.

Here’s how this relates to us:

1. Mama sails: Motherhood is the most exhausting thing that’s ever happened. It just is. And the work we do in raising wonderful kids doesn’t always feel good in the moment. In fact, it’s usually painful to dole out punishment after punishment and feel like you’re never going to reap the rewards of consistent discipline. The lessons you’re teaching your kids and the lessons they are “catching” from watching you, you can only have faith that they stick. We probably won’t see dividends for a long time. But keep doing the work.Keep your sails up, mama, because when the wind comes, you must be ready (and you must ready your child).

2. Your heart sails: These are my favorite. The sails that will carry us to our purpose and our dreams. I know you have them, because I know you already have everything that you need within you to experience and choose joy. But here’s the kicker – even if your dreams are buried so deep you can’t even fathom that they could come true, even if exhaustion and self-doubt are your most loyal companions, even if you feel like you’re drowning in a sea of diapers and chaos – you can ready yourself for your dreams by learning from the season you’re in now. Create time and space in your day for dreaming, for reflection and prayer and getting to know yourself outside of your kids, your significant other, your job, or your circumstances. And get ready. Be ready when the wind comes.

Now, of course our dreams and our dreams for our children may not come as quickly and seemingly “easily” as overnight fame from laughing in a Chewbacca mask, but Candace herself said that her whole life would’ve been different if she hadn’t consistently kept her sails up.

This concept seems a little lofty and fluffy, but I believe in it. My dream is to change mom culture (from one of guilt and judgment) to encouragement and celebration. We’ve started. We’re on our way. And sometimes I get frustrated that the whole world isn’t as excited about spreading the word on this as I am.

But then I’m reminded that I’m not ready yet. I need to continue to put in the work. So let me tell you all this so I can feel some weight of accountability. I need to keep writing compelling content and handing out as many Mother of the Year award stickers as I possibly can. That’s how I’ll keep my sails up. I’m going to write every single week for you (and let’s be honest, for me, too --- it’s one of my best ways to process). And when the wind comes to take me away, I’ll be ready.

Here’s the point: Keep the faith. Cling to hope. Don’t grow weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9). Mothering is hard. Dreaming is hard. But if we keep those sails up, we’ll be ready for the wind!